Corn husker



J-llly 19 1927 E. E. MCNEELY CORN HUSKER Filed Feb. 25. 1926 -4Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor Attorney July 19,1927.

E. E. McNE-:ELY

CORN HUSKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 26, 1926 Inventor E M M0Attorney July 19,1927.

E. E. MCNEELY CORN HUSKER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 26. 1926 PatentedJuly 19, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE..

EARL E. MCNEELY, OF WALDRON, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF' ONE-FOURTH TO EVERETW.

, CROSBY, OF GREENSBURG, INDIANA.-

conn HUsxEIe Application filedFebruary 2G, 1926. Serial No. 90,826.

The present invention appertains to field implements for harvestingcrops, and is designed more particularly for .gathering ears of corn andremoving thehusks therefrom 8 preliminary to loading the crop into afarm wagon or like receptacle. The present application is a continuationin part of my pending application Serlal No. 748,229, filed NovemberI 6,1924.

An important object of the invention is to provide a mechanism in thenature of an at tachment which may be readily applied to or detachedfrom a farm wagon by one person with comparative ease and relativedispatch, said attachment having the operating parts driven from thewagon or by amotor mounted thereon. j

Another very important object of the invention is the provision of acorn harvester which will cut the stalks from the stubble and which willsnap the ears from the stalk .and remove the liusks from the earsWithout injuring the grain. the ears divested of the Vhusks being loadedinto the Wagon or other 2li suitable receptacle provided for receivingthe crop as thev same is harvested, while the stalks and h usks arethrown free from the mechanism to the ground.

Another very important object of the inventionA is to provide a shelledcorn screen' and pan in combination with the mechanism so that theshelled corn will be delivered to a conveying'mechanism for deliveranceinto the wagon or other like receptacle.

Another very important object of the invention is the provision of agathering mechanism for straightening up the stand- `ing stalks whichmechanism is capable of adjustment toward or away from the ground.

A still furthervery importantsobject of the invention is to provide aharvester mechanism of the character specified which involves acomparatively simple, light, and 4- compact; structure and which isetlicient and 4reliable .for the purpose designed and not liable to derangement and which may be i readily stored when not required forimmediate service and which may be easily, ezt- .m peditiously, andconveniently attached to and detached from an ordinary farm wagon so asto be propelled and supported thereby and into which the crop isdelivered as gathered. y

lVith the above and numerous other obn jects in View ad will appear as.the description proceeds, the invention res1des in certain novelfeatures of construction, and in" Figure 3' is a vertical centrallongitudinal section through the corn husker,

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on theline 4r-ll of Figure 3 looking downwardly,

4Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on theline 5 5 of Figure 3 looking to the left,

Figure 6 is another vertical transverse section taken substantially onthe line (3-6 of Figure 3, and

Figure 7 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially on theline 7-7 of Figure 3 lookingl downwardly.

Referring to the drawing in detail it will be seen that in Figure 1 Ihave indicated by dotted, lines an ordinary farm wagon to which myimproved corn husker attachment may be applied in any suitable manner asmay be convenient. By way of illustration I have shown a sprocket f5 onone of the rea-r wheels G of the vehicle A for the purpose of propellingthe drive ch .in 7' of niv attachment, however, any other suitabledriving `means may be utilized.

My attachment is built on a frame 8 of suitable formation which issupported by the vehicle A.

On the forward end of the frame there is disposed a. pair of `gatheringand guide members 9 wl'iich'extend forwardly of the frame as is shown toadvantage in Figure 2 so that their inner edges are in parallel spacedrelation, said inner edges at their forward ends flaring from each otheras is indicated at 10. At said inner edges of the members 9 there aredisposed rising flanges il as is more clearly illustrated in Figure 5.On the outer edges and rear ends of the members 9 there are providedrising sides` l2, on the outer surfaces of which are fixed semi-circulargear segments 13. Pivot bolts 14 pierce the sidesi2 and portions of theframe 8. A shaft ,l5 is journaled on the frame 8 and has gears vi6 atits ends, see Figure l, which mesh with the segments 13. A lever 17 1srockable about the axis of the Shaft and has pawls 18 thereon engageablewith t-he adjacent gear 16 so that by rocking the lever 17 the members 9may be swung upwardly or downwardly at their forward ends, as desired,depending upon the nature of the.

stalks to be gathered and their condition. A; shaft 20 is journaled inthe forwardly disposed extension 2l of the frame B; A plurality ofchannel arms 22 have their upper ends pivoted on the shaft 20. Thesechannel arms 22 are arranged in pairs, the lower end being rested on themembers 9, one pair bedisposed to each side of the s ace be tvveerethemembers 9 as is clearly s own in Figure 2. Sprockets 23 are disposed inthe :upper ends of the arms 22 and are rotatable with the shaft 26.Similar sprockets 24 are journeled the lower ends of the arms 22. Dragchains 25 are trained over sprockets 23 and 24 and have lthereon inspaced relation fingers 26. The chains 2 5 of the inner arms 22 providedwith additional lingers 27 which project across the s ace between themein-bers i) as is clearly il ustrated in Figure 2. lllhen the members 9are swung up- 'uf'ardln the lower ends of the arms 22 slide forwardlyand are also swung upwardly, while when the members 9 are swungdownwardly, said ends of the arms 22 Slide inwardly and swingdownwardly, Grround engaging runners 28 are provided on the undersurface of the forward ends of the members 9. The members 9 will beelevated in. accordance with the condition of the stalks and the ground.Particular attention is directed to Figure 4 wherein it will be seenthat a main drive shaft 30 is driven by a geur 3l over which the drivechain 7 is trained. This drive shaft 30 is journaled through the forwardportion of the frame 8. A, shaft 32 is journaled in the extensions 21.A. gear 33 on the shaft 30 meshes with -a gear on the shaft 32. 'Asprocket .35 is lined at one end of the shaft 32 and has a chain 36trained thereover which is also trained over a sprocketJ 37 on the shaft2U. Thus, i'noveinentis imparted to the drag chains 25 so that theirupper runs move upwardly and their lower runs move downwardly. The arms22 and theirrespective drag chains 25, therefor, assist in gathering andstraightening up the stalks before they are cut b'y a knife 38 which ismounted between tie rear ends of the members 9, the shaft 39 thereofbeing journaled through a bracket 40 supported ou said members 9. iluniversal joint 4l connects the shaft 39 with a shaft 42 journaled inthe frame as at 43 having a beveled gear 44 at its upper end meshingwith beveled gear 46 on-the 1shaft 30 whereby rotary motion is imartedto the cutter 38. (See Figs. 3 and 5.

Snapping rolls 47 are journaled vertically in the forward portion oftheframe 8; an auxiliary rectangular frame 48 is provided for this purpose.These sna pin rolls 47 are two 1n number andere s ight y spaced as isindicated in Figure 5, b ing provided with spiral ribs 49. An inclineplatform 50 extends through the lower ortion of the auxiliary frame48,-said lat orm50 bein inclined downwardly an rearwardly an beingprovided with its rear edge partially cut away as. at 5,1, so that thesnapping rolls 47 may pass therethroug A pair of wings 52 are disposedone at each side of the auxiliary frame 48, extend forwardly therefromand diverge from each other. The rear ends of these wings (see Fig. 7)are curved as at 53 and again curved as at 54. Shafts 55 are disposedvertically, having their lower ends journaled through the platform 50and their upper ends journaled through a bar 56 at the upper end of theframe 48. These shafts 55 are disposed forwardly and to the outside ofthe snapping rolls 47 und between the wings 52, the curvatures 53 beingsubstantially concentric to the axes of the shafts 55 while thecurvatures 54 are substantially concentric as to the axes 0f thesnapping rolls. The snapping rolls 47 are provided at their upper endsWith pint-les 57 and at their bottom ends with pintles 58 journaledrespectively through the upper and lower portions of the auxiliary frame48. A. beveled gear 59 is disposed on one of the pintles 58, and mesheswith a beveled gear 60 on a shaft 6l which is operable by a beveled gear62 meshing with the beveled gear 46. A. gear 63 is on the pintle 57 ofthe roll 47 having the pintle 58 provided lwith the beveled gear 59 undmeshes with-a gear 64 on the other pintle 57. A pair of gears 65 aresuitably journaled on top of the bar 56 and one of them is in mesh withthe gears 64, the gears 65 being 1n mesh with each other.

Gears 66 are in mesh with the gear 65 andk are fixed to the shafts 55,and thus rotary motion is imparted to the snapping rolls 47 in oppositedirection and to the shafts 55 in opposite directions. The shafts 55 areprovided with kclter fingers 67 for guiding the stalks toward the centerof the frame for proper engagement with the snap ing rolls. From Figure3 it Will be seen that as the stalks are engaged by the snapping rolls47 they will be severed from the stubble by knife 38, as the stalkswhich have been severed pass through the snapping rolls, the ears aresnapped' therefrom and fall downwardly onto the forward portion of theinclined platform 50 so as to lide rearwardly onto substantiallyhorizont-al husking rolls later.

69 on shafts 61, to one kot whichl have l previously referred. ln thepresent instance there are tour of these basking rolls as is apparentfrom Figures 2, 4, and 6.

A spiral series ot husking teeth 70 is provided on each roll 69. Therear ends ot the shafts (il have mounted thereon intermeshing gearsll sothat the adjacent shafts rotate in opposite directions. A platform 72 isdisposed over the husking rolls 69 inclining downwardlv and rearwardlyfrom the rear oit snapping rolls 4T and a fender i3 is mounted thereonto direct the stripped stalks to the one side of the husker attachmentonto the ground."w An endless belt 74 is trained over rollers 75 and Tdthe Jformer being 'forwardly disp'oserhaiul the latter disposedrearwardly ol' the machine. This endless belt Tel is disposed under theplatform l2 and above the basking rolls (i9 and has g :tingers 7Tthereon for engaging the .7.. i perl ears for dragging them along thehashing rolls (S9 rearwardly. The shatt 78 ,ot the forward roller 75 isshown in Figure Tl as havingI a sprocket 'i9 thereon over which istrained a eaain 8O also trained over a sprocket 8l on the drive shaft30.

The teeth 70 of the, husking rolls 69 tear the husks from the earsandpass them below the rolls 'to be delivered outwardly to the side otthe attaclnnent as will be described The drag belt 7l progresses theears rearwardly as they are being husked, and delivers the husked earsto an elevating mechanism, which l have designated generally by theletter B. This elevating` mechanism B is located in 'the rear end of theframe 8 and inclines upwardly and to the right of the attachment havingits upper delivery end disposed over the wagon to which the attach-Ament is applied, or any other suitable receptacle. This elevatingmechanism may be ot any preferred or desired construction, and 1n thepresent instance is provided with al trough 82 having trained therein anendless belt 83 with scoops 84 arranged thereon at intervals. Theforward side of the trough 82 is provided with a cut out 85 so that theears may be thrown therethrough into the trough onto the endless belt83.

A rod 86 extends longitudinally of the Yiframe 8 to the right larrd sidethereof at a lower level'than the rolls 69, a crank shaft- 87 isjonrnaled to extend longitudinally of the 'frame 8 to the lett hand sidethereof jand is also disposed at a lower level than the rolls G9, and inthe same horizontal plane with the rod 86. A plurality ot barsJ 88 areprovided at one end with slots 89 while their other ends have journaledtherein the cranks ot' the crank shaitt 87. Corrugated drag strips 90are extended longitudinally ot the upper edges of the bars 88.Referringl particularly to Figure 6 it will be noted that the crankshaft 87 is adapted to rotate in a counter-clockwisedirectionconsidering this figure so that the bars 884 are reciprocated back andforth transversely of the trame and when moving to the right of themachine, are disposed upwardly, but when moving to the lett of themachine are disposed downwardly, thereby .urging the husks delivereddownwardly through the rolls 69 to the left of this ligure, that is tothe right hand side of 'the attachment.

A shelled corn screen 91 is disposed in the frame 8 at a lower levelthan the bars 88 and is inclined downwardly and rearwardly. A shelledcorn pan 92 is mounted in the frame below the screen 91 and has a bottomwhich is inclined downwardly and rearwardly. rlhe rearwall of the pan 92has an opening 93, see Figure 6, and a spout 94 leading into the bottom'of the conveyor or elevating mechanism ll. Thus the shelled corn whichfalls through the husking roll 69 will landon the screen 91, and bethere separated Jfrom the silk and passed through the openings of thescreen into the pan 92 from which it will roll into the bottom of theelevating mechanism to be also delivered up into the wagon orlikereceptaele. The crank shaft 87 has a cog wheel or sprocket 95thereon over -which is trained a chain 9G. This chain 96 is trained overa sprocket 97' on the shaft 98 that operates the endless belt 83 ot theelevating mechanism B. A second sprocket 99 is disposed on the shaft 98and has a chain i 100 trained thereover which is also trained over asprocket 101 on one ofthe husking rolls 69, thus the rotation or' thehusking roll 69 imparts motion to the elevating mechanism and to thehusk drag mechanism.

Att-er the attachment has been mountedforward ends of the guide andgathering members 9 at the desired height from the ground. Thus, it thestalks are leaning considerably, or have been trampled down, the

.forward .ends of the members should be very close to the ground, but itthe stalks are standing, and the lowest ears are spaced from the ground,the forward ends of the members may be raised accordingly.

As the wagon movesforwardly, the edges l0 of the members 9 gather' andguide the stalks toward the-,space between the flanges 11.1 The dragchains and.` fingers on the channel arms 22 straighten up the stalks'sothat they will be properly .delivered for engagement with the fingers onthe shafts 55 to be vdirected toward the snapping rolls 4T. As thestalks are severed by the knife' 38 and pass through the rolls 47, theears are snapped therefrom and'drop down on the platform 50 and are ledto the husking rolls 69. In the meantime, the stripped stalks are lao tothe left hand side of the attac ment by the fender 72. The earsdelivered onto the hashing rolls 69 are moved rearwardly bythe drag belt74 and are hushed, the hushed ears being delivered into the elevatingmechanism B and up over into the wagon while the husls are delivereddown between the rolls 69. "These huslrs are dragged to the left handside of the machine by the husk drag bars 88. As the ears are beinghushed, some kernels are bound to be knocked therefrom and dropped deanonto theslie'lled corn screen 9i and be separated from the sill: and

`passed through the openings in the screen able in the statement of theinvention, and

the above description, particular emphasis f being placed upon theconipactness and convenience of the attachment, which in the em bodimentwhich I have actually built, can be lifted by asingle individual andoperates in a most reliable manner.' It is apparent, however, thatnumerous changes inthe details of construction, and inthe combinationandarrangement of 4parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit oi' scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed orsacriicingany of its advantages.

Having;` thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by liettei's Patent is l. A harvester of the class describedincluding, in combinatiom a. frame, a pair of parallel spaced forwardlyextending guide and gathering'members pivoted to the frame, means forswinging said members, a plurality of bars having their upper endspivotally mounted on the frame and their lower ends slidably resting onthe members, and

endless drag means operable in orbits about' vend lof the huskingmechanism, elevating mi said bars. l i

2. A harvester including, in combination, a f-ramc, a pair of guide andgathering inem- ,beis pivoted forwardly of the frame and eX- tending` inparallel spaced relation, means for l"swinging the members, al pluralityof channel bars having their upper ends pivotally mounted on the frame,and their lower ends slidably restingl on thc membcrsLsprocketsjournaled in thc ends of the bars. drag chains trained over saidsprockets and movable in the channels of the bars and drag lingers onsaid chains.

3. A corn harvester of the class described including, in combination, a,frame, cutting. snapping, and husking mechanisms mounted on the frame,apair of guiding and gather ing members pivoted at the lower frontportion of the frame to extend in parallel spaced relation, the cuttingmechanism being located adjacent the rear ends of said members, aplurality of arms pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the foi-Wardupper portion of the frame and having their lower ends slid ably restingon the members, drag mecha nisms on said bars. Ll. corn harvester of theclass isoi'ilied including, in combina ion, a. fraaie, cuttingsnapping,A and basking mechanisms mounted on the fraaie, a pair ofguiding and gathering members pivoted at the lower front por tion of theframe to extend in parallel spaced relation, the cutting mechanismslbeing located adjacent the rear ends of said members, a. plurality ofarms vpivotally mounted c their upper ends on the forward upper por--tion ofthe frame and having their lower ends slidably resting on themembers, drag mechanisms on said bars, said snapiina mechanism beinglocated to the rear o; th upper ends of the bars and eirtendfm,` etically, said bushing mechanism catenaA ,y horizontally and rearwardlyfrom the s ping mechanism, and a platforin'entcnd` from the upper endsof the bars to the Ward end of the huslring mechanism..

5. A corn harvester of the 'class descr "i including, in combination, aframe, cutti snapping, and husking mechanisms morini on the frame, apair of guiding and gather ing members pivoted at the front lov/ei' pertion of the frame to extend in parallel spaced relation, the cuttingmechanisms being lo cated adjacent the rear ends of said members, aplurality of arms pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the forwardupper poru i tion of the frame and having` their lower ends slidablyresting onfthe members, drag mechanisms `on said bars, said snappingmechanism being located to the rear of the ,upper ends of the bars andextending ver f ai tically, said husking mechanism extendinghorizontally and rearwardly' fija rn the snapping mechanism, a platformextending from the upper ends of the bars-to the forward means at therear of the frame delivering the hushed ears into a wagon on which theframe is supported.

6. A corn harvester of the class described including, in combination, aframe. cutting, ll"

snapping, and hur'fking mechanisms mounted. ou the frame, ya pair ofguiding and gather" in g members pivoted at the front lower porn tion ofthe frame to extend in parallel spaced u ,u

relation. the cutting mechanisms being lo- W" cated adjacent the rearends of said members, a plurality of arms pivotally mounted at theirupper ends on the forward upper por tion of the frame and having theirlower ends slidably resting on the members, drag l 'e'nd of the huskingmechanism, elevating means at the rear of the frame delivering thehusked ears into a` wagon on which the frame is supported, husk dragmeans mounted on the frame below the hnsking mechanism to deliver the`husks to the side of the frame. i

'i'. fr corn harvester of the class described including, in combination,a frame, cutting, snapping, and husking mechanisms.mounted on the frame,a pair of guiding and gathering members pivoted at the front lowerportion of the frame, to entend in parallel spaced relation, the cuttingmechanisms be-, ing .located adjacent. the rear ends of said'` members,a plurality of arms pivotally mounted at their upper ends on the forwardupper portion of the frame and having their lower ends slidably restingon the members, drag' mechanisms on said bars, said snapping mechanismbeing located to the rear of the upper ends of the bars and extendingvertic-ally, said husking mechanism extending horizontally andrearwardly from the snapping mechanism, a platform extending .from thelower ends of the bars `to the forward end of the husking mechanism,elevating means at the rear of the frame delivering the husked ears intoa wagon on which the frame is supported, husk drag 'means mounted on theframebelow the husking mechanism to deliver the husks to the side of theframe, and ear drag means above the huskinp; mechanism for moving theears longitudijmilly of the frame along the husking meclninism. l

il. A corn harvester of the class described including, in combination, aframe, cutting, s'o.a.1,gping, and husking mechanisms mounted on theframe, a pair of guiding and gatherine' members pivoted at the frontlower portidn of the frame to "extend in parallelspaced relation, thecutting mechanisms being located adjacent the rear ends of said members,a plurality of arms pivotallymounted at their upper ends on the forwardupper portion of the 'frame and having their lower ends slidablyresting' on the members, diag mechanisms on said bars, said snappingmechanism being' located to the rear of the upper ends of the bars andextending vertically@ said huskinpfy mechanism ,extending horizbi'ilallvand rearwardly from the snapping mechanism, a platform extending fromthe upper ends of the bars to the forward end of the bushing mechanism,elevating means at the rear of the frame delivering tlie husked earsinto a wagon on which the frame is supported, husk drag meansmounted onthei frame below the husking mechanism to deliver the husks to the sideof the frame, ear drag means above thek hilsking lmechanism for movingthe ears longitudinally of the frame along the hnsking mechanism, aninclined y,platform above the ear drag means to the rear of the snapingmechanism and a fender on said plat orm to delect the stripped stalks toone side of tl e frame.

A. 9. ln a corn harvester, a frame, a panr of,

vertically disposed snapping rolls located forwardly of the frame, aharvesting mechanism located forwardly'of the frame to de liver stalksto the snapping rolls, a severing mechanism on the frame below thesnapping rolls for severing the stalks delivered thereto, a platform onthe frame'inelined downwardly and rearwardly atv the lower ends of the'snapping rolls, a. second platform inclined downwardly'and rearwardly atthe rear of the intermediate portions of the snapping rolls, a fender onsaid second platform to lead stripped stalks to one side 'of the frame,a plurality of horizontally disposed husking rolls' journaled in theframe below and immediately to the rear of the first platform, a dragmechanism undef' the second platform and over the huskin rolls formoving snapped ears along sai huskin'g rolls, an elevating mechanism atthe rear of the frame for receivinv the Ihusked ears from the huskingrolls, sai elevating mechanism being inclined upwardly and to one sideof the frame. i

l0. In a corn harvester, a frame, -a pair of vertically disposedsnapping rolls located forwardly of the frame, a harvesting mechanismlocatltd forwardly of the frame to deliver stalks to t 1e snappingrolls, a severing mechanism bn t 1e frame below the snapping rolls forsevering the stalks delivered thereto, a platform on the frame inclineddown.- wardly and rearwardly at the lower' ends of the snapping rolls,asecond platform inclined downwardly and rearwardly at the rear of theintermediate 'portions of the snapping rolls, a fender on the secondplatform to lead stripped stalks to one side of the frame, a pluralityof horizontally disposed husking rolls journaled in the frame below andimmediately to the rear of the first platform, a drag mechanism underthe second platform ,andl` over the husking rolls for moving snappedears along said liusking rolls, an eleyating mechanism at the rear ofthe frame foil receiving the husked ears from the bushing rolls, saidelevating mechanism being inclined upwardly and to one side of theframe, a transversely operating drag mechanismdisposcd in the frameunder the husking rolls.

les

il.. In a corn harvester, a frame, a pair of vertically disposedsnapping rolls located forwardly of the frame, a harvesting mechanismlocated forwardly of the frame to deliver stalks to the snapping rolls,a severing mechanism on the frame below the snapping rolls for severingthe stalks delivered thereto, a platform onthe frame inclined downwardlyand vrearwari'lly fat the lower ends of the snapping rolls, fa "secondplatform inclined downwardly and rearwardly at the rear of theintermediate portions of the snapping rolls, a fender on the secondlatform to lead stripped stalks to one si e of the frame, a. pluralityoi horizontally disposed liusking rolls journaled in the frame below andimmediately to the rear of the first platform, a drag mechanism under`the -second platform and over the hu'sking rolls for moving snapped earsalong said hus rolls, an elevating mechanism at the rear o the frame forreceiving the husked ears from the husking rolls, said elevatingmechanism being inclined upwardly and to one side of the frame, (atransversely operating drag mechanism disposed in the frame under thehuskin rolls, a shelled corn screen in the frame elow the drag mechanismlast mentioned and a shelled corn pan under the screen having aninclined bottom leading rearwardly into the bottom of the elevatingmechanis In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EARL E. MCNEELY.

